Steve Graham

Partner

About

Steve is a commercial lawyer who helps clients with a whole raft of issues from refinancing and buying and selling businesses, through to developing shareholder and joint venture agreements. Steve also has strong insolvency expertise having worked in the Official Assignee's Office and as a liquidator and receiver in a specialist accounting firm. He also acts as first port-of-call for many clients looking for advice in other legal areas, directing them to the right people within the firm, making sure that the matter is properly looked after so that his clients get the outcome that they are looking for.

Steve's clients tell him that he has a clear understanding of what they need to do in the corporate/commercial space. They also tell him that he is easygoing and that his even temper is helpful in negotiation situations.

Qualifications

BCom (Economics), University of Auckland 1998

LLB, University of Auckland 1998

EXAMPLES OF TRANSACTIONS

Acting for a shareholder of a New Zealand company, which is owned 50:50 by an Australian public company and some private New Zealand investors who don’t always see eye to eye. The New Zealand investors wanted to buy out the Australian company but there was a complicated mixture of potential conflicts of interest as well as complex laws relating to financing. The transaction was successfully completed and all parties were able to walk away from it satisfied with the outcome.
Advising on a 50% share purchase in a business in the space of a day. This involved haggling over terms and warranties and putting a new shareholders agreement together in less than 24 hours. The deal was completed on Christmas Eve and the client joked that it was a great way to get work done quickly as he would have expected it to take at least a month.
Acting for a vendor on an Overseas Investment Application for the acquisition of a winery. This was one of the first under the then new sets of guidelines. Steve got the Commission to waive the requirement of having to advertise to the local community, as his client had informally told locals that the business was for sale. The business was sold to the overseas investor.

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Background

When Steve left law school he did insolvency work for the Official Assignee's Office for two years before working as a liquidator and receiver for a specialist accounting firm for a further two years. Steve then moved into the legal field as an insolvency lawyer at Lowndes Associates, a boutique Shortland Street law firm, where he also developed corporate and commercial experience. Steve joined McVeagh Fleming in 2004 and has been involved in a wide variety of work, from corporate and commercial through to property law. Having worked both as a solicitor, and as a client of law firms, Steve knows that legal work can be expensive so he is constantly looking for ways to work more effectively.

Outside Interests

Music is Steve's passion, in particular sixties psychedelic rock (Hendrix, Joplin, Airplane, the Doors) and late 90s alt-rock (as played by Channel Z). Steve also enjoys all sport - he is a self-confessed cricket tragic and still regularly plays touch rugby and indoor netball. His economics background means he has retained a keen interest in economic policy - good for animated discussions with friends and colleagues (preferably over a number of independent NZ beers).

MEMBERSHIPS, PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND DIRECTORSHIPS

Main Practice Areas

Business/Commercial Law

Insolvency Law